Cisco Networking Academy Congratulates Winners of 2012 EMEA NetRiders

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Students From 45 Countries Competed in Online Event to Win 5 US Study Trips Sponsored by Cisco

July 13, 2012

London, UK - July 13, 2012 – Cisco Networking Academy™ today announced the winners of its prestigious networking technology competition, CCNA International NetRiders in Europe, Russia, CIS and Middle East and Africa. The Cisco® NetRiders IT Skills Competition is designed to test students' knowledge of networking technologies and to prepare them for on-the-job challenges as they enter the workforce.

One hundred forty-seven Networking Academy® students from 45 countries participated simultaneously online, across five time zones. The winners of each of the five categories are invited to go on a Cisco sponsored study tour to California's Silicon Valley in January 2013.

NetRiders is a global networking contest created by the Cisco Networking Academy for students enrolled in the program. It builds on skills that participants acquire as they go through their training. At the competition, contestants use their IT and networking knowledge through simulation activities in which they build, configure and troubleshoot virtual networks.

NetRiders utilizes Cisco Web 2.0 technologies to create an interactive skills contest that motivates students to pursue further technology education and training; at the same time it fosters the sense that participants are part of one online community, collaborating with each other across a range of shared activities using the same tools.

The EMEA CCNA International NetRiders contest took place on July 3, 2012. The finalists were nominated as the top entrants from each participating country. The five winners will join winners from other NetRiders competitions around the world for a one-week study tour in California in January 2013. They will spend a working week at Cisco headquarters in San Jose, meet with senior executives, systems engineers and experts from Cisco and other information technology companies, and experience the California lifestyle with trips to San Francisco and Stanford University.

Identifying top talent remains a priority for the Networking Academy, as research is again pointing to skills gaps within the IT sector that could hamper productivity and competitiveness across the globe.

Key Networking Academy Statistics:

1 million Networking Academy students worldwide engaged in learning this year

More than 4.2 million students have participated in Networking Academy courses since inception

"There is strong global demand for ICT solutions across all business segments because innovative use of technology increases productivity, reduces overall costs and helps transform businesses. The Cisco Networking Academy program contributes to fulfilling this global demand by teaching over 1 million students annually, the skills needed to design, build, manage and secure computer networks. NetRiders draws on our student community, providing an exciting and competitive forum that showcases top talent around the world."

The Networking Academy began in 1997 with 64 schools and has grown to become one of the "world's largest classrooms" with 10,000 academies in 165 countries, and more than 4 million students having participated in the program since its inception.

A pioneering example of cloud-based education delivery, the Networking Academy teaches students how to design, build, troubleshoot, and secure computer networks for increased access to career and economic opportunities in communities around the world. Students who complete the program often go on to secure entry-level career opportunities, participate in continuing education and achieve globally recognized career certifications.

Networking Academy courses are delivered in multiple languages through a cloud-based learning system. Courses are supported by classroom instruction, hands-on learning activities, and interactive online assessments that provide personalized feedback. Networking Academy instructors receive extensive training and support to help ensure a consistently-enriching learning experience for students around the world.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in some markets is supplied either by Cisco Systems International BV or by Cisco International Limited, both of which are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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